Self-inflating swim aid

ABSTRACT

A self-inflating swimming aid comprises a flotation member having a core of open cell foam closely encompassed in a waterproof casing of impermeable plastic. An inflation valve allows fluid communication with the foam core through the cover. The device is inflated by opening the valve so that the foam core may assume its expanded shape, and is deflated by compressing the foam core to force the air out of the flotation member through the valve. Once the flotation member is deflated to a desirable size and shape, the valve may be closed and the device may be folded or rolled up for storage.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/490,100 entitled “SELF-INFLATING SWIM AID,” filed on Apr. 26, 2017, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to flotation devices used to teach swimming, such as vests, arm bands, waist bands, and the like, and particularly to such devices that require inflation before use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various devices are available to assist in teaching a child to swim. Many of the devices are attached to the child to provide some degree of buoyancy as the child attempts to learn to swim. Some of these devices are inflatable and typically require that a bladder be inflated via a valve, the inflation being effected either by mouth or sometimes by operation of a mechanical or automatic pump. When the child is eager to plunge into the water, it may be inconvenient to inflate the device orally or via a pump.

The instant invention provides a swimming aid that is self-inflating. In one aspect of the invention, the swimming aid comprises a vest having a pocket within. A flotation member, comprising an appropriately shaped core of open cell foam closely encompassed in a waterproof casing of impermeable plastic, is secured in the pocket. An inflation valve allows fluid communication with the foam core through the cover. The valve is accessible through an opening in the back panel of the vest.

In order to inflate the device, the valve is opened and the foam core is allowed to assume its expanded shape. The valve is then closed so that the device may be put into use. To deflate the foam core, the valve is opened and the device is squeezed or compressed to force out the air from within the foam core. Once the flotation member is deflated to a desirable size and shape, the valve may be closed and the device may be folded or rolled up for storage.

To re-inflate the device, the consumer needs only to open the valve. The open cell foam will expand from its compressed condition, drawing in air through the intake valve and expanding the foam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figure, each identical or nearly identical component illustrated is typically represented by a single numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. In the figures:

FIG. 1 depicts a swim aid in the form of a vest.

FIG. 2 depicts the back of the vest and the inflation valve.

FIG. 3 depicts the flotation member, the location of the three panels of the foam core within its cover being shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 4 depicts the rear of the flotation member, the inflation valve protruding therefrom.

FIG. 5 depicts the vest of FIG. 1, unzipped and opened up, the dashed lines showing the placement of the flotation member within a closed pocket formed in the inside of the vest.

FIGS. 6A and 6B depicted another self-inflating swim aid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One possible construction of a swim aid 10 in accordance with the instant invention is shown in FIG. 1, in the form of a vest comprised of fabric jacket 12 that wraps around the upper torso of the user, and having two armholes 14 and a zipper fastener 16 in the front. Adjustable strap 18 may be employed to secure the vest to the user.

FIG. 2 shows the inflation valve 20 located at the rear of the swim aid 10, the inflation valve protruding through aperture 22 in jacket 12 to allow convenient inflation and deflation of the device.

FIG. 3 depicts inflation member 24 comprised of waterproof cover 26 and, shown in dashed lines, rectangular foam core elements 28A, 28B, and 28C having a thickness of approximately one inch. The foam core elements are held in place within cover 26 by heat sealed areas 30 in cover 26. These sealed areas 30 also facilitate the folding and fitting of the vest to the wearer by allowing the flotation member 24 to be bent or folded at or near the hips of the wearer.

FIG. 4 depicts the valve attached to and protruding from the back of cover 26 of flotation member 24.

FIG. 5 depicts the swim aid 10 in its unzipped and open state. Flotation member 24, represented by dashed lines, is fully enclosed in a fabric pocket 32 stitched to and located on the interior of fabric jacket 12.

FIGS. 6A and 6B depict another swim aid that may incorporate a self-inflating flotation element as described above. The inflation valve is depicted in FIG. 6B, on the rear surface of the device.

The foregoing description of the invention is provided by way of example and is not intended to be limiting. Variations, alterations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art, and they are intended to be within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

From the description of at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the results and/or one of more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are mean to be exemplary and the actual parameters, dimensions, materials and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present invention is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, with the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The present invention is directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present invention. 

What I claim is:
 1. An inflatable, buoyant swim aid comprising: a core element of open cell foam having a compressed and an expanded state; an impermeable, flexible casing enclosing said core element; and a valve affixed to said casing and communicating with said open cell foam allowing the flow of air into and out of said casing to selectively expand and contract the core element.
 2. The swimming aid of claim 1 wherein the swim aid includes a pocket therein, said flexible casing being held in said pocket and said inflation valve projecting outwardly through an aperture in said device.
 3. An inflatable flotation vest comprising: a body portion formed in the shape of a vest; a core element of open cell foam having a compressed and an expanded state; an impermeable, flexible casing enclosing said core element; and a valve in communication with said core element to allow selective expansion and contraction of the core element by allowing air into said casing to expand the core element, and to allow air to be expelled from the casing in order to contract the core element. 